BJP workers use threats, violence to force shutdown in Punjab

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Last Updated: Thu, Sep 20, 2012 12:52 hrs

Chandigarh: Unable to get a voluntary response from people for the nationwide shutdown call given by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), BJP workers resorted to threats, abusive language and even beat up people to enforce the shutdown Thursday.

Video footage of the BJP workers protesting in Chandigarh and Amritsar clearly showed some workers indulging in illegal means to harass common people.

In Chandigarh, a young man going on his motorcycle with his mother was stopped on the road by protesting BJP workers in the presence of police. As some workers prevented him from going ahead, one person tried to take away the keys of his motorcycle. This led to a verbal duel between the youth and BJP workers with choicest of Punjabi abuses hurled.

Within seconds, several BJP supporters pounced on him and started beating him. The youth's shocked mother started wailing loudly, forcing police to rush and intervene. The mother had to be comforted by a couple of women and the police as she went hysterical. Police then pushed the BJP protesters away and let the youth go ahead.

In Amritsar city, 250 km from here, a local BJP leader was caught on video threatening a fruit vendor to shut his shop.

"I will get your shop permanently shut from tomorrow if you don't do it today," the BJP leader threatened.

The BJP is a partner with the Shiromani Akali Dal in the ruling alliance in Punjab.

In another incident in Amritsar, BJP workers ransacked the makeshift roadside shop of a petty shopkeeper selling marigold garlands. One BJP supporter threw away his chair and used abusive language to force him to shut business.